Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-12-05

less life, with little care of the NOR
row. Three years ago | sent such
available means as | had to my bank
ers in Paris and London, and left be-
hind me what | could not carry, my
land and here | am comparatively a
poor man, with only money enough
to buy some small bit of land-ranch
is what you call it-and live on for
few years until l grow fup with my
adopted country. A new existence
may-I do not say it will-give me
back that energy for which my own
people in the far past were famous.
The colonel listened approviDgly.
Then opening his heart, Monsieur
Alexis said that it might be presump-
tious on his part to throw himself at
the mercy of his newly made friends,
out would the colonel allow him to
accompany him and Miss McBiddie
to Denver? Even more than that, he
had a good deal of money about his
person, and it was a risk to carry it
around, and the colonel might ar
range so as to have it sent to Denver.
The colonel was taken quite aback.
Such unlimited confidence he hardly
expected. Then the colonel consult
ed Almeria, and she blushed and
seemed to be in doubt.
"Would it not compromise me p
she inquired
''Stuff and nonsense ~ said the
colonel. ''Almery, there is a ranch
on Powder Creek had to take it
last year-what would just fit the
case. [ don't commit myself now
a-days until [ see how he pans out. "
"Oh, papa that's one of your hor-
rid business terms. ] am sure that
long railroad travel is thing 1 dread,
and you going to sleep most of the
time, and passing hours on the smok-
ing car, and nobody to talk to-
"Well, then, l guess we can fix it ;
anyways if we take a trip together |
will always be within call. It's a
good ranch, Almery, and worth all
the. money l ask for it, and if he
shows up we'll, I'll act square by him.
There's only one thing he seems so
blessed and innocent and confiding
like
When NJ. Alexis met Miss McBid-
die that evening, he touched her GLOW
ed finger tips with his lips. Almeria
gave little gasp, half surprise, half
pleasure. Her confusion was mani
fest, and he noticed it. 'EFOrgive
me-" he said. SIT was only Rus
sian custom expressive of heartfelt
gratitude. L am like a child, and
cannot repress my feelings. 1t will
be such happiness for me to see this
new land under delightful auspices. .
That night Almeria had more
dreams. She was a fairly prudent
young woman, not yet twenty-eight.
If it were a conquest she had made,
she had no fancy to exhibit her tri-
umph, and Monsieur Alexis, though
he had been rather demonstratiYe-
just onoe-showed no further sign of
exultation.
They had a great deal to say to
one another. The weather was pleas
ant, the moon at her full, and Alme-
ria was happier than she had ever
been in her life before. 1t would be
on the cars that NJ. Alexis would tell
the whole story of his life. OF course
such a man as that, a man evidently
Of the world, would have to be for
given for his faults. He was free ;
he had told that plainly enough; but
then she would not be quite satisfied
with that; and the colonel, who was
shrewd, would make further inquiries
but if she loved him, and she felt as
if she did, she would be a wretched
woman if matters turned out not so
roseate as she hoped for. Yet the
recital, the acting of her romance,
might take place as the two were
speeding over the monotonous prai-
ries.
NJ. Alexis had never looked bright
er, more elegant, than when the
steamer was near the dock. 81 am
such an infant, my dear colonel, that
put myself entirely under your
CHARGE" he said, with a pleasant
smile.
Then Miss McBiddie laughed, and
made cunning remark that he was
a fairly well-grown baby to be haul
ed around in leading-stlings EBut, -
she added, ''if he was real good, not
troublesome, and did not bother with
too many questions, she would take
him and her father that night to the
theater. That would be his first sight
seeing in New York. You see, the
opera at Denver and New York
may not be as good as in Paris and
London, but it satisfies US" Then
Almeria tried to remember in which
of her four trunks had been packed
her finest dress, and wondered if the
custom-house people would delay her
much, and the probabilities of her
wearing her lovely silk that very
night.
Il have little curiosity" said NJ.
Alexis, '.about New York, and care
nothing for huge cities, for they wear
family resemblance. The bigger
they grow, the more marked the like
ness I shall like Denver far haffer